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be a sincere believer of the gospel, and so far as respects his own private conduct, an exemplary example of genuine piety; but until he has connected himself with a christian church, he has not professed himself to be a Christian. It is by that act he declares to the world his faith and hope as a believer in Christ. It is thus he virtually says, "I receive the opinions, possess the dispositions, submit to the obligations, and observe the practices of the church of God with which I now connect myself." Jesus Christ has made it our duty not only to receive his truth into our hearts, but to confess him before men; and it is a duty on which very considerable stress is laid. This is to be done, not in any ostentatious way, but by joining ourselves to his people : which is a confession, that both the church and the world clearly understand. Hence it is apparent that church membership is no trifling matter, since it is calling heaven, earth, and hell to witness our solemn declaration of submission to the authority of Christ. It is saying in the hearing of more worlds than one, "I am a Christian."

III. It is the visible bond of union with the disciples of Jesus.

Christians are not only to be united, but to exhibit their union. Their oneness of sentiment, of affection, of purpose, is to be seen. We are not only to love one another, but our love is to be known, which is impossible without membership. In its collectiye capacity, a church concentrates as in a focus, the light and love that exist in her individual members. Without being combined in a visible union, its splendour would be only

as the dim and scattered light which was diffused over the chaos in the twilight of creation, while the fellowship of the saints is the same light gathered up and embodied in the solar orb. We are indeed united in spirit with the church of Christ from the moment we have believed his gospel; but our union is neither expressed nor recognized, until we have joined it in the usual way. We are citizens in feeling and intention, but not yet known from enemies, aliens, and spies. Membership, therefore, is the bond of visible union with the brethren in Christ.

IV. It is an explicit declaration of our determination to submit to the government and discipline of the church.

Every society has laws for the regulation of its affairs. Without these it could not exist; and to which every member professes, at the time of his entrance, his determination to submit. The church of the Redeemer has in like manner its social rules, which respect the members in their associated capacity. We are therefore not only amenable to the direct authority of Christ, but also to that authority expressed by the voice of the church; we must submit to all its regulations, observe all its injunctions, support its decisions, or we can no longer remain in its communion. If we are called before it, we must appear; if required to explain any part of our conduct, we must comply; if censured, we must submit. We are in no case haughtily to exclaim, "What is the church, that I should obey it? to my own master I stand or fall." Our act of joining the society is an explicit declaration of our willingness to submit to the laws by which it is governed. We can

voluntarily secede when there is just occasion, or in case of a false decision, we can mildly protest; but as long as we continue members we must submit, for our very membership professes and requires it.

V. It is to exhibit upon a smaller scale that sublime and glorious union and communion which subsist, not only between all real Christians of every country, name, and age, but between the whole redeemed church and their Divine Head.

Passages of a very striking import speak of this most comprehensive confederation." That in the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth; even in him." Ephes. i. 10. "There is one body and one spirit." Ephes. iv. 4. "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ." 1 John i. 3. From these passages we learn that the aggregate of believers, united to Jesus Christ and through him to the Father, form one vast harmonious fellowship of holiness and benevolence. They are united in the same pursuit, which is the divine glory; in the same means for the attainment of that object, which is the salvation of the soul. The church universal will ever remain the one grand monument on which are recorded all the praises of the living God. Of this general assembly every particular society is the miniature resemblance. By its public worship, its beautiful subordination, its mutual affection, its truth, its holiness, its peace, it is an exhibition to the world of that fellowship which has God in

Christ for its head, all believers for its members, heaven for its temple, and eternity for its duration; while every time it assembles for worship, it shews forth the unity of the church, and the communion of saints.

CHAPTER III.

THE PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP.

I. The participation of the Lord's supper.

That a reception of the appointed memorials of the Saviour's dying love, is indeed a privilege, requires no proof. As creatures, whose minds are instructed and whose hearts are impressed through the medium of our senses, how affecting are the emblems of the body and blood of Christ. Enough of resemblance may be observed by the fancy between the sign and the thing signified to aid the exercise of the affections, while enough of simplicity remains to prevent the excursions of the imagination from interfering with the more sublime and scriptural operations of our faith. That sacramental seasons are commonly the most happy and most profitable which a believer ever spends amongst the means of grace, is a fact not to be denied. It is no wonder that it should be so. It is at the sacred supper that the attention is more powerfully arrested and fixed, and the heart impressed and affected. It is there, that the scheme of redeeming mercy seems peculiarly to expand upon the understanding, and to excite the emotions of the bosom in a degree almost unknown elsewhere. It is there, that the glory of the divine character has been most clearly discovered by

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